Shoe jack device



Nov. 28, 1967 1 HARDY 3,354,485

SHOE JACK DEVICE Filed July 27, 1966 F I6. I FIG. 2

' INVENTC-R.

EAWEST HARDY United States Patent 3,354,485 SHOE JACK DEWQE ErnestHardy, 25 Knapp St, Wilton, Maine 04294 Filed July 27, 1966, Ser. No.568,275 Claims. (Ci. 12--123) The present invention is related to shoemanufacturing devices and more specifically to shoe jack devicesdesigned to hold shoe Vamps and tips in appropriate positions enablinghand sewing.

Prior hand sewing shoe jacks were expensive, cumbersome and complicatedto manufacture, they tended to soon bind in use and catch sewing threadand were unable to provide a strong grip for a last While allowing forthe easy insertion and removal of the last.

In the hand sewing of shoes it is important to have a jack which mayfirmly hold a last and yet be universally rotatable and adapted for useby the sewer in either a standing or seated position next to the bench.

According to the present invention, unobvious modifications of shoejacks of the past have provided a simple, less expensive, longerlasting, more easily used shoe jack.

Although such novel feature or features believed to be characteristic ofthe invention are pointed out in the claims, the invention and themanner in which it may be carried out may be further understood byreference to the description following and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan View of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention.

Referring now to the figures in greater detail, where like referencenumbers denote like parts in the various figures.

The shoe jack 1 of the present invention comprises a right angle twistedvertical member 2 pivotally mounted at its lower end 3 to the work bench4 by bracket means 5 comprising two angle sections 6 each of whichcontaining mounting holes 7 and a larger hole 8 situated on the oppositeleg and suitable for mounting the vertical member 2.

The mounting means 5 are mounted to the work bench 4 by ordinaryfastening means such as bolts and nuts, sheet metal screws, or if thework bench is of wooden construction, by ordinary wood screws.

The vertical member 2, having a hole 9 of suitable size for pivotalmounting between the angle section 6 is mounted to the bracket means 5by a bolt 10 and nut 11 running through holes 8 of the angle sectionsand through hole 9 of the vertical member 2. An additional configurationutilizing lock washer 12 may be emplaced on bolt 10 before the nut 11 isemplaced on bolt 18.

The bolt 19 and nut 11 are tightened so that the vertical member 2 maybe moved to any desired angular position about bracket means 5 andremain relatively fixed in such position.

The lower end 3 of the vertical member 2 is preferably rounded to avoidprotruding corners which are likely to catch sewing thread as a vamp isbeing sewn.

The vertical member 2 has a 90 flexural twist 14 between the upper 13and lower 3 ends.

Upper angle bracket 15 is pivotally mounted at upper end 13 of member 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the face plate 23 comprises a flat memberwith a hole 24 at its upper end designed to align with holes 16, 17 andbushings 18, 19, the face plate 23 joining the bracket 15 to thevertical member by means of a bolt passing through the holes 16, 17. Apin 25 runs through face plate 23 and vertical member 2 holds face plate23 in a rigid vertical position.

Additional holes 26 run through the lower end of face plate 23 and hole27 runs through vertical member 2. Through these holes 26, 27 a rigidwire 21 is inserted which will prevent sewing thread used in sewing shoeVamps from being caught under the face plate 23 or on "ice the pin 25 atthe space between the face plate 23 and vertical member 24.

A last holding bar 28 is pivotally attached to the upper angle bracket15. The attaching means comprising holes 30, 31 through angle bracket 15and bar 28 respectively. A bushing 32 is further emplaced between thebar 28 and horizontal lug of angle bracket 15 and aligned with holes 38,31, the bolt 33 running through angle bracket 15, bushing 32 and bar 28.Emplaced over bolt 33 at its head between bar 28 and tightening :bar 28is a second brass bushing 35 covered by a steel washer 36.

The nut is tightened so as to provide adequate rigidity and rotationabout bolt 33.

A toe rest 37 is fabricated of a suitable rigid material and is loopedover the head of bolt 33 forming a smooth end with the bar 28.

The toe rest 37 is fastened to the bar 28 by ordinary fastening meanssuch as bolts and nuts running from the toe rest 37 through the bar 28.The raised portion of said toe rest 37 is emplaced over the nut 34 andbolt 33. The end of the toe rest 37 touches the end of bar, 28 to avoidthe catching of sewing thread under said toe rest 37. A toe pad 38 ofrubber, plastic or other suitable material is mounted to the upperportion of the raised portion of toe rest 37 by ordinary mounting meanssuch as adhesive mounting means.

The end 39 of horizontal bar 28 is angulated slightly toward the upperportion of said horizontal bar 28 and is bifurcated.

Hinging means 48 comprising two rigid blocks 41 with hinge pin 42running between the blocks are mounted to the underside of horizontalbar 28 near bifurcated end 39 by ordinary mounting means such as bolts.

A J-shaped, shouldered cylindrical member 43 having a hole 44 at the endof its leg, is mounted to the hinging means 40, the pin 42 runningthrough hole 44 and is so shaped as to pass between the bifurcated ends39 of the horizontal bar 28.

The opposite leg of the J member 43, comprises a shoulder 45 at whichpoint the diameter increases to that of the upper cylindrical portion 46which is of larger diameter than the lower portion of the J bar.

The upper face of the upper cylindrical portion 46 contains acylindrical hole 47, which is threaded.

A U-shaped shoe last bar 48 comprising a rigid cylindrical member shapedin the manner of a U and threaded at one end is so threaded as to matewith and be emplaced in the threaded hole 47 of the upper cylindricalportion 46.

A spring 49 is emplaced around the lower portion of the J bar 43 betweenthe upper shoulder 45 and the bifurcated end 39 of the horizontal bar.

In operation, the unthreaded end of the U bar 48 is emplaced in theopening 50 of the shoe last 51. The last is then turned and placed overthe horizontal bar 28-.

Clearance is provided for such turning by pushing the I bar 43 away fromthe horizontal bar 28 against the resistance of the spring 49, whileobtaining leverage against the spring 49 by pushing the end of the last51 upward. When the toe of the last 51 is over toe rest 37, the I bar 43is released and the spring compression forces the last 51 against thetoe rest 37.

The U 48 bar may be raised or lowered by rotation in the threads of thehole 47. The U 48, moveable with its threads is rotatable to swing awayfrom its position above the bar 28 and enter the opening 50 in a shoelast 51.

The compression of the spring 49 firmly holds the last 51 with a vamp inthe toe rest 37. The bushings 32, 35 respectively allow free rotation ofthe bar 28 at the direction of the sewer yet are adapted to holdposition against free movement under the tightening of the nut 34 andbolt 33. The bolt 20 fits flushly into hole 17 which is threaded,

1:3, leaving no protuberance. Thus, there is no impediment to catch thelong sewing thread used by the sewer.

It is preferable for the movements of the jack of the present inventionto be freely available, yet the jack should not be loose, which wouldrequire extra handling by the sewer. The bolts 20, 34 permittheconnections whichallow universal movement to be tightened so thatthey are firmly held, yet easily yield to the position required by thesewer for sewing. The rigid wire 21., rounded endSand non-protrusion ofbolt 20 and rounded upper end 13 provide practically no areas, forthread hitching. The bent-overfront of the toe rest 37 resting on thelast holding bar also restrains the thread from tangling of the past.The bushings 18, 19, 32, 35 allow for free movement even when the bolts20, 33 are fastened tightly.

The twist 14enables the simple mounting configuration of the verticalmember 2 and enables the sewer to stand using the jack, or sit, rotatingthe jack to a comfortable position for work as required or desired.

The terms and expressions which are employed are used as terms ofdescription, it is recognized, though that various modifications arepossible within the scope of the invention claimed.

Having thus described certain forms of the invention in some detail,what is claimed is:

1. A shoe jack for holding a shoe last used in the hand sewing of shoescomprising bench mounting means, a first member of said shoe jack,adapted to be rotatably mounted in said bench mounting means at one end,said member including a 90 flexural twist, an angle bracket,mountingmeansadapted to rotatably mount said angle bracketto the otherend of said first member, a last holding bar, means adapted to rotatablymount said lastholdingbar to afreeend of said'angle bracket, a toe reston one endoftsaid last'holding bar, said toe rest including meansforming a flush surface with the end of said bar, and last holdingmeans, said last holding means mounted on the other end of said lastholding bar, said last holding means being hinged beneath said lastholding bar and including a spring biased against the upper portion ofsaid last holding bar and a flange on said last holding means and arotatable U shaped bar adpted to fit into the opening of a shoe last.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein both said mounting means ofsaidangle bracket include brass bushings.

3. The invention of claim l-wherein said means mounting said anglebracket to said twisted member includes a face plate, abolt, an openingin said face plate adapted to receive said bolt, an opening in saidangle bracket adapted to receive said bolt, a threaded opening in saidtwisted member adapted to receive said bolt, a fixed pin, a rigid wirerunning through said face plate and said twisted member adaptedto keepthread from becoming engaged under said face plate; and said :bolt andpin adapted to be tightenedtin said threads in said twisted memberwithout-an appreciable protrusion of said bolt.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said angle bracket is mountedbetween brass bushings.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said bench mounting means comprisesa pair of right angle brackets juxtaposed and adapted to rotatably mountsaid twisted memberupon mounting means passing between said brackets andthrough said twisted member.

References Cited UNITED ST'ATES PATENTS 979,851 12/1910 Hansen 121262,757,395 8/1956 Gould 12-123 PATRIGK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

1. A SHOE JACK FOR HOLDING A SHOE LAST USED IN THE HAND SEWING OF THESHOES COMPRISING BENCH MOUNTING MEANS, A FIRST MEMBER OF SAID SHOE JACK,ADAPTED TO BE ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BENCH MOUNTING MEANS AT ONE END,SAID MEMBER INCLUDING AT 90* FLEXURAL TWIST, AN ANGLE BRACKET, MOUNTINGMEANS ADAPTED TO ROTATABLY MOUNT SAID ANGLE BRACKET TO THE OTHER END OFSAID FIRST MEMBER, A LAST HOLDING BAR, MEANS ADAPTED TO ROTATABLY MOUNTSAID LAST HOLDING BAR TO A FREE END OF SAID ANGLE BRACKET, A TOE REST ONONE END OF SAID LAST HOLDING BAR, SAID TOE REST INCLUDING MEANS FORMINGA FLUSH SURFACE WITH THE END OF SAID BAR, AND LAST HOLDING MEANS, SAIDLAST HOLDING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE OTHER END OF SAID LAST HOLDING MEANSMOUNTED MEANS BEING HINGED BENEATH SAID LAST HOLDING BAR AND INCLUDING ASPRING BIASED AGAINST THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID LAST HOLDING BAR AND AFLANGE ON SAID LAST HOLDING MEANS AND A ROTATABLE U SHAPED BAR ADAPTEDTO FIT INTO THE OPENING OF A SHOE LAST.